Hendrick Motorsports star driver Kyle Larson is not your average NASCAR driver. Having already conquered a championship for himself, he was always eager to repeat these heroics in a different discipline. And like most drivers, he was attracted to the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the Indy 500.

Now, we all know the weather and waiver drama spoiled Larson’s debut experience, but he will have a second bite at the cherry. It is indeed hard to predict if Larson will be back in contention for a win after an 18th-place finish. However, former American sportscaster Jack Arute believes that the HMS star is a clear favorite to win the prestigious title soon.

Kyle Larson could be destined for Indy 500 glory

Now, it takes a special kind of talent to pilot a NASCAR stock car and an open-wheel IndyCar machine. But Larson, from the very beginning of his NASCAR career, showed signs that he wasn’t content competing in just stock car races. Fortunately, he had his wish fulfilled when Hendrick Motorsports partnered with the Arrow McLaren team and was able to make his Indy 500 debut. “I love you, Indiana fans. I know you guys love me, too. How about we come back next May and try to kiss these bricks in an INDYCAR?” This was Larson’s pitch to Mr. H after winning the Brickyard 400 to allow him a second run at the Indianapolis 500. Given how sketchy things became after the driver missed the start of the Coca-Cola 600 and the waiver situation, HMS had to tread carefully.

Well, if there’s one driver within the NASCAR world who deserves a second chance at winning a race, it has to be Kyle Larson. His debut was marred by a late start, pit road troubles, and missed opportunities. But despite not being a seasoned open-wheel driver, he gave his rivals a run for their money. He was battling with the leaders and was in the top 6, but a pit road mistake proved too costly and he had to serve a drive-through penalty.

After this mess, he dropped out of the top 20, and despite throwing a kitchen sink late in the race, he was able to gain two positions. This result was a bitter blow for Larson, and he knew he had to script a redemption run and take care of unfinished business. But, will this redemption run result in a historic win for Larson? Jack Arute believes he can, given that he consistently keeps turning up at the Indy 500.

“I got to tell you. I think Kyle Larson, after what I witnessed up close and personal, and also because of my ties with Tony Canan and Erol McLaren and what he did and the way he adapted… I honestly think he could become the first NASCAR driver to win the greatest spectacle in racing. If he keeps at it for the next couple of years, I truly believe that that’s right there on the precipice of happening.” Arute said this on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Looking back at Larson’s success on the dirt, winning historic races like the Turkey Night Grand Prix and Chili Bowl Nationals, he certainly has the skill set to aim for another big win. In recent history, Tony Stewart was the one who was successful in completing “The Double” and finished 6th in the Indy 500 race. Will Larson eclipse in a league of his own with a historic win in 2025, or will the Indy 500 throw another curveball at the HMS driver? The answer to this question will reveal itself when the 2021 Cup Series champ hops back in the open-wheel car at the iconic racing venue.

Speaking of non-NASCAR adventures, Kyle Larson has also got a lot on his plate with his sprint car series, High Limit.

Is High Limit Racing open to merging with World of Outlaws?

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Kyle Larson and Brad Sweet’s brainchild was a rather unique take on the traditional dirt racing experience. With a shorter schedule and high payout, this was perhaps the best avenue for young and budding drivers and teams. The 2024 season saw the series garner a total of 2.5 million aggregate viewers on Flo Racing, but there’s a catch.

Despite the massive outreach and lucrative payout, the series is struggling with deep driver and team entry. Something the historic Sprint car series World of Outlaws has managed to do by competing against Larson’s brand-new offering. However, recent comments made by Larson suggest he would be able to resolve the issues with his series with a potential merger with the Outlaws.

“That’s at least a topic we’ve talked about. Hopefully, whatever happens, will be for the betterment of the sport.” Larson said this about the potential merger with Outlaws. This doesn’t mean High Limit Racing is slowing down by any means; in fact, they are expanding with new venues and an extended schedule. The series will host a total of 61 races in 2025 across 36 tracks on U.S. soil, and their very first event is going to be overseas in Australia.

“Fans could see how passionate we were, how great our shows ran, and how exciting our racing was—and those are the biggest elements to pleasing people,” Larson added. Although the links to Outlaws is something that could redefine sprint car racing, the HMS star isn’t hitting the brakes on his new venture just yet.